Investing.com -- Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) reported first-quarter results Thursday that met earnings expectations but fell short on revenue, sending shares down 5.6% premarket.

The restaurant operator posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.05 for the first quarter ended August 30, 2026, matching analyst estimates of $2.05. However, revenue of $3.2 billion missed the consensus estimate of $3.21 billion, though it represented a 5.1% increase from $3.04 billion in the same quarter last year.

Blended same-restaurant sales increased 3.1% on a fiscal calendar basis and 3.2% on a comparable calendar basis.

LongHorn Steakhouse led segment performance with same-restaurant sales growth of 6.2%, while Olive Garden, the company's largest brand, posted more modest growth of 1.1%.

"The first quarter was a solid start to our fiscal year with each of our segments delivering positive same-restaurant sales," said Darden President and CEO Rick Cardenas. "The performance across our portfolio reinforces the importance of having distinctive brands, each with a clear strategy, supported by Darden's scale and other competitive advantages."

For fiscal 2027, Darden reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting earnings per share of $11.10 to $11.35. The midpoint of $11.23 falls slightly below the analyst consensus of $11.28.

By segment, Olive Garden generated $1.33 billion in sales with segment profit of $270.8 million. LongHorn Steakhouse posted sales of $860.9 million, up from $776.4 million last year, with segment profit of $154.6 million. The Fine Dining segment reported sales of $304.2 million and segment profit of $39.6 million.

The company repurchased $222.3 million of its common stock during the quarter and declared a quarterly dividend of $1.62 per share, payable November 2, 2026. As of quarter-end, Darden operated 2,218 company-owned restaurants across its portfolio of brands.